Determination of the cause of inhibition in the biogas plant in Lisbonn (PRT)
Determination of the cause of inhibition in the biogas plant in Lisbonn (POR)
Cooperation/Client: Linde-KCA Dresden GmbH
Financial scope: 120.000 Euro
Duration: March 2006 - February 2007
Contact: Prof. Dr. Christina Dornack
Project description:
Investigations into inhibition in the Lisbon biogas plant were carried out as part of the industrial order from Linde-KCA Dresden GmbH. For this purpose, all accumulating substrates were subjected to extensive and continuous substrate characterization.
Only with exact knowledge about the composition of the batches fed to the biogas reactors a detection of inhibition influences is possible. It was possible to exclude inhibiting substances and/or individual batches from the feed in this way. For this purpose, a sample of each batch from the pulper was set aside and frozen daily by an employee on site. Sample transport from Lisbon to Pirna was to take place once a week. The characterization of the substrate was carried out with respect to the following parameters:
TR, oTR, CODhomogenized, CODcentrifuged, TOC, DC, concentration and composition of organic acids. TKN, NH4+-N, Pges, oPO43-, content of triglycerides, content of mineral oils, content of phenolic substances, content of PAH.
Furthermore, the quasi-continuous tests were carried out in 16 laboratory-scale reactors with different settings with the aim of determining an optimum start-up strategy and optimized operation. Further tests were related to the inhibition effect of n-alkanes in the anaerobic process.